Washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Washing apparatus having a fluid delivery assembly, one form of the invention being intended for washing objects which are moved past the fluid delivery assembly, the other form having the fluid delivery assembly movably mounted whereby it may be moved with respect to the object to be washed. Any given number of the fluid delivery assemblies may be utilized, either fixed or movable, each of the fluid delivery assemblies including a first, generally horizontal stretch of a pipe, and a second stretch of pipe extending downwardly from the first stretch, there being a plurality of nozzles shiftably carried by the pipes of the fluid delivery assembly and a single prime mover for each fluid delivery assembly for oscillating the nozzles whereby to obtain the maximum washing action upon the object to be washed.

Umted States Patent 1151 3,674,211

Gage et a1. 1 1 July 4, 1972 s41 WASHING APPARATUS 3,391,701 7/1968 Richardson et .al. ..134/1s1 x [72] Inventors: Frank Gage Kansas City Mo Marvin 3,481,346 12/1969 McBurnett ..134/181 X L. Z l l P abe Over and Kans Primary Examinen-Robert L. Bleutge Asslgneer The Dy -Je C p a i Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey and Williams 22 F] d: A 12, 1970 1 e I N :2 57 ABSTRACT 21 A 1 1 PP Washing apparatus having a fluid delivery assembly, one form of the invention being intended for washing objects which are [52] [1.8. C] ..239/247, 134/123, 134/144, moved past the fluid delivery assembly, the other form having 134/165, 134/131, 134/199 the fluid delivery assembly movably mounted whereby it may [51] Int. Cl ..B08b 3/02 be moved with respect to the object to be washed Any given [58] Fleld of Search ..l34/45, 123, 144, 165, 130, number of the fluid delivery assembnes may be utilized either 134/181 199; 239/2251 247 fixed or movable, each of the fluid delivery assemblies including a first, generally horizontal stretch of a pipe, and a second [56] References cued stretch of pipe extending downwardly from the first stretch, UNITED STATES PATENTS there being a plurality of nozzles shiftably carried by the pipes of the flu1d dehvery assembly and a single prlme mover for 3,261,369 7/1966 Thlele ..134/123 eagh fluid delivery assembly for oscillating the nozzles Neuman whereby to obtain the maximum washing action upon the 0b. 2,103,842 12/1937 Drake ..134/45 ject to be washed 3,422,827 1/1969 McCulloch ...134/181 X 3,288,109 11/1966 Smith, Jr. et a1 ..134/181 X 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJUL 4 1912 SHEET 10F 3 mvENwRs. Fran/y H. Gage Marv/n L.Zobel PKTENTED JUL 4 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTORS. Frank H. Gage By Marvin A. Zabel 4" zmfi IQTTORNEYS.

WASHING APPARATUS It is the primary object of this invention to provide washing apparatus which includes a predetermined number of fluid delivery assemblies, each of the assemblies including a first, generally horizontal stretch of fluid delivery pipe, and a second stretch of fluid delivery pipe extending downwardly from the first stretch, each of the stretches of pipe having a plurality of noules shiftably mounted thereon and arranged in pairs along the stretches of pipe, there being a single prime mover for each of the fluid delivery assemblies and the nozzles thereof whereby, upon actuation of the prime mover the nozzles are shifted in an oscillating path by virtue of linkage coupling the nozzles with the prime mover.

In one form of the invention the single prime mover of a given fluid delivery assembly is also utilized to move the assembly with respect to the object to be washed, the prime mover being coupled with a tire which is, in turn, in engagement with a track normally circumscribing the object to be washed, the prime mover upon actuation serving not only to move the fluid delivery assembly with respect to the object to be washed, but to also simultaneously shift the nozzles of the fluid delivery assembly in an oscillating path.

In another form of the invention, the fluid delivery assemblies are arranged in pairs and are fixed whereby the object to be washed is moved with respect thereto as by passing through said fluid delivery assemblies, the fluid delivery assemblies of the fixed form of washing apparatus including a pair of generally opposed, downwardly extending stretches of pipe, and a pair of generally opposed, horizontal stretches of pipe, the downwardly extending stretches of pipe being inclined with respect to the vertical and the horizontal stretch of pipe whereby the nozzles on the downwardly extending pipe are staggered with respect to the object to be washed and are stepped downwardly and outwardly from the horizontal stretch of pipe.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a high capacity fluid delivery nozzle which can be utilized in connection with the fluid delivery assembly where a greater delivery capacity is desired, as is normally the case with some of the nozzles which are located in pairs upon the downwardly extending, second stretch of fluid delivery pipe. The high capacity fluid delivery nonle is in communication with the fluid delivery pipe and includes an arcuate body having a central passage, the passage being in communication with the stretch of fluid delivery pipe, the nozzle having a plurality of fluid delivery tubes, one end of the tubes extending into the central passage whereby to deliver the maximum fluid at a predetermined distance from the nozzle and thus achieve the greatest possible washing of the object.

Other objects of this invention include details of construction which will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the invention showing the same particularly utilized in washing a carcass of meat;

FIG. 2 is a view in the nature of a front elevational view and taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I, the carcass being fragmentarily shown;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of one of the nozzles used in connection with the fluid delivery assembly;

FIG. 5 is a substantially central, longitudinally sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of another form of the invention wherein the fluid delivery assembly is moved with respect to the object to be washed, such as a vehicle for instance;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, portions being in section to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the lower end of the fluid delivery assembly illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the manner in which the fluid delivery assembly is mounted upon a track;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary showing of the manner in which the prime mover is coupled with the linkage for shifting the noules in the form of invention illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of another form of nozzle which may be used in conjunction with the fluid delivery assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

The washing apparatus hereinafter described, while essen tially similar in its basic components, takes two specific forms, depending upon the particular environmentin which the apparatus is to be used. In some instances the apparatus hereinafter disclosed and illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings will be preferably utilized as when the object to be washed is more conveniently moved with respect to the wash ing apparatus, such as for instance, the moving of a carcass of meat through a packinghouse, this particular utilization of the washing apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 being chosen for purposes of illustration.

On the other hand, washing apparatus such as generally shown in FIGS. 7-ll will be more desirably utilized when the apparatus is to be moved withrespect to the object to be washed such as, for instance, a vehicle wherein the vehicle may be positioned at a location circumscribed by a track which carries the fluid delivery assembly and the assembly then driven along the track and about the vehicle the desired number of times whereby to completely wash and rinse the vehicle, this embodiment of the invention being similar to that illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,391,701.

Turning first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the washing apparatus, broadly designated by the numeral 20, includes a fluid delivery assembly 22 and a fluid delivery assembly 24, the assemblies22 and 24 being identical in construction, only one of the same being hereinafter described, it being noted that the assemblies 22 and 24.are positioned in adjacent relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1 whereby maximum washing of the object such as a carcass 26 may be achieved. It will be readily appreciated that any multiple number of assemblies such as 22 or 24 may be used to wash a carcass such as 26 as it passes through a washing enclosure and is carried by an overhead track 28.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that each of the fluid delivery assemblies such as 22 includes at least a first, generally horizontal stretch of fluid delivery pipe such as 30, and a downwardly extending stretch of fluid delivery pipe 32, the particular fluid delivery assembly 22 illustrated in FIG. 2 being in the form of an arbor which includes a pair of horizontal stretches such as 30 and a pair of downwardly extending stretches 32, said stretches combining to create the fluid delivery assembly 22, there being a common manifold 34 joining the upper ends of the downwardly extending stretches 32 whereby fluid may be delivered thereinto from a suitable source (not shown).

The horizontal stretches 30 of fluid delivery assembly 22 are positioned generally above the item to be washed such as carcass 26, and the downwardly extending stretches 32, which are in generally opposed relationship, straddle the object 26 to be washed.

The fluid delivery assembly 22 includes a plurality of nozzles which are shiftably carried thereby, it being noted for instance, that the horiz ontally disposed stretches 30 carry, at the innermost ends thereof, a pair of nozzles such as 36, the downwardly extending stretches 32 having a plurality of pairs of noales such as 38 spaced therealong, all as is clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the pairs of nozzles are spaced apart, there being one on each side of the stretch 32, and the stretches 32 of the fluid delivery assembly 22, while being in generally opposed relationship, are slightly 05"- set with respect to one another whereby the area of coverage of the generally opposed pairs of nozzles will be such as to insure complete washing of the object such as carcass 26.

Furthermore, in order to insure that an object such as carcass 26 is completely washed, the downwardly extending stretches 32 are inclined with respect to the vertical and also with respect to the horizontally extending stretches 30 whereby the nozzles which are carried by the stretches 32 are staggered outwardly and downwardly from the first stretch of pipe 30.

Thus, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the uppermost pair of oscillating nozzles of one of the downwardly extending stretches 32, said particular pair being broadly designated by the numeral 40, are the first to act upon the carcass 26 as it moves through the washing apparatus 20, assuming that the carcass moves from left to right viewing FIG. 1 of the drawings. Subsequently, because of their stairstepped or staggered relationship, the succeeding nozzles 42 and 44 will act upon the carcass as it moves through the apparatus 20. It will also be noted that there is an overlapping between the fluid delivery assembly 24 and the fluid delivery assembly 22 which constitute apparatus 20 as the carcass is moved therethrough whereby to insure a complete washing thereof. As is obvious, the uppermost nozzles of each of the fluid delivery assemblies 24 and 22 will first act upon the carcass and will remove any blood, dirt or debris therefrom, causing the same to move downwardly along the object to be washed, the succeeding nozzles of each of the assemblies 24 and 22 then acting to move said debris downwardly along the object to be washed whereby, when the object has been sequentially acted upon by the succeedingly stepped nozzles, the debris will be entirely removed therefrom within a very short stretch of the washing apparatus 20.

The action of the apparatus 20 is aided by the fact that the pairs of nozzles 38 for instance, are oscillated, whereby to sweep across the object 26 to be washed. The oscillation of the nozzles is achieved by the provision of a prime mover 46, there being a single prime mover for each of the delivery assemblies 22 and 24, the prime mover in the embodiment of the invention illustrated being in the form of an air motor, although it will be appreciated that a water motor or electric motor might readily be utilized. The prime mover 46 is coupled with an eccentric wheel 48 which is mounted upon the overhead manifold 34, the first eccentric wheel 48 being coupled, as by a rod 50, with a second eccentric wheel 52, the wheel 48 serving to shiftably actuate the nozzles carried by one side of the fluid assembly 22, and the wheel 52, through suitable linkage, serving to actuate in oscillating fashion the nozzles carried by the other side of the fluid delivery assembly 22.

Specifically, the linkage for each side of the fluid delivery assembly 22 is the same, this including a series of rods 54 interconnecting the wheels 48 and 52 with their corresponding nozzles 36 and 38, the nozzles being shiftably mounted in pairs upon the stretches 30 and 32 whereby a swivel joint, such as 56, is provided for each set of nozzles, the linkage 54 being coupled with the nozzles in such a manner that when the prime mover 46 is actuated, the nozzles will be swung together in pairs, each pair of nozzles being swung through the same path at the same time in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated.

It will be appreciated, however, that the linkage 54 and swivel joints 56 could be arranged in such a manner that each nozzle of a pair could be swung with respect to the other nozzle and thereby achieve the shearing action described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,701. However, when utilizing the washing apparatus 20 to wash carcasses, it has been found that this shearing action is too intense and results in destroyed or damaged meat, it being considered preferable that the nozzles of each pair be swung together in an oscillating motion to thereby simultaneously act upon the object 26 to be washed.

Also, to achieve the maximum washing of the object 26, it is desirable that certain of the nozzles have a greater fluid delivery capacity than the others, the nozzles of greater capacity being illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings and those of reduced capacity being illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings. As illustrated in the drawings, it is desired that the nozzles of greater capacity be utilized along the stretches 32 of the washing apparatus 20 and particularly as the lowermost series of nozzles along said downwardly extending stretches 32.

The nozzle 58 illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 is especially designed to achieve a maximum fluid delivery and includes a body 60 of elongated, generally rectangular configuration, the body being arcuate whereby to present an arcuate, central passage 62 which is closed at both ends and which is in communication with a suitable fluid delivery pipe such as 32 by means of a coupling 64, which coupling is fitted into an inlet opening 66 provided in the body 60 whereby to place the passage 62 into communication with the fluid delivery pipe such as 32 for instance.

The nozzle 58 is provided with a plurality of fluid delivery tubes 68 which are in communication with the central passage, the fluid delivery tubes being spaced apart along the arcuate body 60 whereby to deliver the maximum amount of fluid at the predetermined distance to the object to be washed. It should be noted that, in order to insure a smooth and continuous flow of fluid through the nozzle 58 and prevent turbulence at the entrance of the fluid delivery tube 68, the tubes 68 all have one end thereof extending into central passage 62 for a substantial distance.

Nozzles such as 58 are shown as utilized, for instance, in the pairs 40, 42 and 44 of fiuid delivery assembly 24, the same type of nozzles being utilized for instance, in the pairs of nozzles 70, 72, 74 and 76 which are the lowermost pairs of nozzles on fluid delivery assembly 22.

The remaining nozzles of the fluid delivery assemblies are such as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, said nozzles 78 being generally cylindrical and presenting three fluid delivery apertures 80, the outermost of said apertures being slightly inclined with respect to the central aperture whereby an arcuate fluid delivery path is achieved thereby covering the greatest possible area of the object to be washed as the nozzles, such as 78, deliver fluid thereonto as the same are oscillated.

It will be appreciated that the washing apparatus 20, such as illustrated in FIGS. l-3 of the drawings, can be readily utilized to wash many various types of objects, a carcass being chosen merely for purposes of illustration, the particular arrangement of the fluid delivery assemblies 22 and 24, the disposition and oscillation of the particular types of nozzles 58 and 78, and their staggered relationship to the object as it moves between the fluid delivery assemblies, all cooperating to achieve the greatest possible washing of the object such as 26.

The other form of the invention, best illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, is primarily intended to be utilized in a situation where the object to be washed is stationary, and the fluid delivery assembly is to be moved with respect thereto as, for instance, a vehicle washing operation.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-1 1, the washing apparatus includes a fluid delivery assembly 92 having a first, generally horizontal stretch of fluid delivery pipe 94, and a downwardly extending second stretch of fluid delivery pipe 96, there being a plurality of pairs of nozzles 98 shiftably carried by the fluid delivery assembly 92, the nozzles being swivelly mounted in closely spaced pairs in the manner described for instance, in US. Pat. No. 3,391 ,70l

However, in the washing apparatus 90, the nozzles are mounted directly upon the stretches of fluid delivery pipe as by swivel coupling 100, each nozzle being independently and individually mounted, the direct mounting of the nozzles upon the stretches of fluid delivery pipe eliminating the necessity for separate or individual fluid delivery hoses to place the pipes such as 96 for instance, into communication with the several different nozzles spaced therealong. Rather, the nozzles are in direct communication with the pipe, such as 96, through the swivel mountings 100.

There is provided mechanism broadly designated as 102 for shifting the nozzles in an oscillating path, such mechanism including as its major components, a prime mover 104, a tire 106, a sprocket 108, a driven shaft 110, eccentric wheels 112, and a plurality of linkage rods such as 114 coupling the wheels 112 with individual swivel mountings 100 for nozzles 98. Here again, it is not necessary to provide a single power source for each of the pairs of nozzles or each bank of nozzles, but rather a single prime mover 104 is provided not only to oscillate the nozzles when it is actuated, but to also drive the fluid delivery assembly 92 along a track 116 which carries the assembly 92. This, of course, is an advantage over prior devices wherein multiple prime movers have been required, the single prime mover being arranged and coupled in such a manner that it performs all of the driving requirements of the washing apparatus 90 without the necessity for additional prime mover units.

Thus, for instance, the prime mover 104 in acting to shift the nozzles 98, drives the rotatable tire 106 whereby to drive a circumscribing chain 118, which circumscribing chain is disposed within the tire 106 and is in engagement with the sprocket 108 which is carried on the uppermost end of shaft 110, all as clearly illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. As the sprocket 108 is driven by the rotation of the tire 106, movement is imparted to its eccentric wheels 1 12, through suitable gearing, whereby to rotate the same and thus drive the connecting rods 114 which are coupled thereto, it being noted that a rod for one nozzle of each pair of nozzles would be connected to one wheel 112 at a given point, and the rod for the other nozzle of each of the pairs of nozzles would be connected to the other wheel 112 at a point opposite to the connection of the first rod whereby the nozzles of each pair are oscillated relative to one another to thereby create the shearing action which is more fully and particularly described in US. Pat. No. 3,391,701. However, it will be obvious that if simultaneous oscillation of the nozzles 98 is desired whereby to cause each nozzle 120 and 122, for instance, of the pair of nozzles 98 to move together, this could be readily accomplished by arrangement of the connection of the rods 1 14 with eccentric wheels 112. Likewise, the wheels 112 serve, through generally horizontally disposed corresponding rods 114, to drive the pair of nozzles 98 which are carried by the horizontal stretch 94 of fluid delivery pipe.

It will be apparent that the generally horizontal stretch 94 of fluid delivery assembly 92 is in overlying relationship to the object to be washed whereas downward extending stretch 96 is in vertical relationship thereto, said combined stretches serving to thoroughly wash the object, such as a vehicle for instance, as the assembly 92 is driven about the vehicle by the prime mover 104.

Specifically, the fluid delivery assembly 92 is driven with respect to the object to be washed by virtue of the fact that tire 106 is in frictional engagement with the track 116, whereby, upon rotation of the tire by prime mover 104, the entire as sembly will be caused to move along the track, it being noted that the fluid delivery assembly is suspended from the prime mover as by a main plate 124, said main plate and its as sociated components serving to suspend the fluid delivery assembly in the desired position from the track 116.

The prime mover 104 is carried by the carriage assembly, which carriage assembly includes a first pair of vertically disposed wheels 126 which engage the upper edge of the track 1 16; a second series of wheels which are horizontally disposed and which include pairs 128 and 130 which engage surface 132 of the track 116 adjacent the normally uppermost edge thereof; and a pair of lower wheels 134 which engage the surface 132 of track 116 adjacent the normally lowermost edge thereof, all as is quite clearly illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings. The engagement of wheels 126, 128, 130 and 134 with the track 116 serves to securely suspend the carriage assembly from the overhead track 116, the carriage assembly in turn supporting the prime mover 104 and, through plate 124, the fluid delivery assembly 92, all to the end that a single,

rather compact unit is presented.

As is apparent from the foregoing, when the prime mover 104 is actuated, the fluid delivery assembly will be moved along the track 116 and the pairs of nozzles 98 oscillated, whereby as the assembly 92 is moved about the object to be washed, the noules such as 120 and 122 will exert the washing, shearing action upon the object and upon all surfaces and sides thereof whereby to thoroughly wash the same.

Here again, it will be noted that where maximum fluid delivery capacity is desired through pairs of nozzles such as 98, the nozzles such as 58 may be utilized. When a reduced flow is appropriate, nozzles such as 78 may be utilized, it being contemplated for instance, that the pairs of nozzles 98 illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings and carried by the stretch 94 and the upper portion of stretch 96 of assembly 92 will be provided with outlet nozzles such as 78, whereas the lowermost nozzles of the assembly 92, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 9 of the drawings, and which should provide a greater delivery capacity, are provided with nozzles such as 58.

Thus, there is provided a washing apparatus which is readily positioned with respect to the object to be washed as by mounting the same upon an overhead track 1 16, the apparatus including horizontally and vertically disposed stretches of fluid delivery pipe having nozzles disposed therealong for shifting movement with respect thereto, the entire assembly being driven about the object to be washed and the nozzles oscillated by a single prime mover 104, thus greatly contributing to the economy of construction and operation of the washing apparatus 90.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A washing apparatus comprising:

a fluid delivery assembly adapted to be positioned adjacent the object to be washed, the fluid delivery assembly including at least a first, generally horizontal stretch of pipe and a second stretch of pipe extending downwardly from said first stretch;

a plurality of monies shiftably carried by the assembly, said nozzles being arranged in pairs along said stretches, certain pairs of said nozzles having a greater fluid delivery capacity than other pairs of said nozzles, the nozzles of greater delivery capacity being on the second, downwardly extending stretch of pipe, each of said nozzles of greater delivery capacity including an inlet opening in communication with said second stretch of pipe, an arcuate body having a central passage in communication with said opening and a plurality of spaced-apart fluid delivery tubes in communication with said central passage; and

mechanism for shifting the nozzles in an oscillating path, said mechanism including a single prime mover for the fluid delivery assembly and linkage coupling said single prime mover with each pair of nozzles for shifting the nozzles in said oscillating path upon actuation of the prime mover.

2. Washing apparatus as set forth :in claim 1, said fluid delivery tubes having one end thereof extending into said central passage. 

1. A washing apparatus comprising: a fluid delivery assembly adapted to be positioned adjacent the object to be washed, the fluid delivery assembly including at least a first, generally horizontal stretch of pipe and a second stretch of pipe extending downwardly from said first stretch; a plurality of nozzles shiftably carried by the assembly, said nozzles being arranged in pairs along said stretches, certain pairs of said nozzles having a greater fluid delivery capacity than other pairs of said nozzles, the nozzles of greater delivery capacity being on the second, downwardly extending stretch of pipe, each of said nozzles of greater delivery capacity including an inlet opening in communication with said second stretch of pipe, an arcuate body having a central passage in communication with said opening and a plurality of spaced-apart fluid delivery tubes in communication with said central passage; and mechanism for shifting the nozzles in an oscillating path, said mechanism including a single prime mover for the fluid delivery assembly and linkage coupling said single prime mover with each pair of nozzles for shifting the nozzles in said oscillating path upon actuation of the prime mover.
 2. Washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said fluid delivery tubes having one end thereof extending into said central passage. 